Culvert forming machine



Feb; 15, 1949. M. L. ECKMAN 2,462,038

CULVERT FORMING MACHINE Filed. Jan. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORZXZEY Feb. 15, 1949. M. ECKMAN CULVERT FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MER/L L. ECAM/l/V ATTORNEY Feb. 15, 1949. M. 1.. ECKMAN 2,462,038

CULVERT FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan, V30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. MER/L L [CK/WW ATTORNEY- Feb. 15, 1949. M. L. ECK MAN 8 I CULVERT FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.6.

. INVENTOR. MRM L. 'C/(MAA/ WWW ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15,1949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OULVERT FORMING MACHINE Meril L., Eckman, North West Canton, Ohio, as-

signor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 30, 1947, Serial No. 725,362

8 Claims.

' means whereby a substantial length of corrugated pipe may be deformed in one operation.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate or reduce slippage, during the deforming operation, between the culvert and the flattening means. I

A further object is to eliminate or reduce undue stresses in the corrugated. sheet metal culvert during the, deformin operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a machine embodyingthe invention.

In general the apparatus of the invention comprises a die having a recess corresponding to the desired arched top of the finished culvert, a plurality of platens positioned above the recess and a means for simultaneously actuating the platens, to apply sufilcient pressure to the cylindrical culvert blank to shape said blank into conformity with the recess of the die and flatten the portions of the culvert blank engaged by the platens.

In a particularly satisfactory embodiment of the invention, two platens are provided, which are slidablyv mounted on rods hinged at points along two sides of the recessed 'die. The free edges of the platens are adjacent, and directly above the recess, for example on lines parallel configuration of the recessed die and that portion of the blank which is in contact with the platens becomes flattened. The free ends of the platens maintain substantially the same spatial relationshipto each other by sliding outwardly on the hinged rods as the platens move downwardly in the deforming operation. .Reciprocation of the ramming member in the other or upward direction causes the free ends of-platens to draw upward away from the recess to permit removal of 2 the deformed culvert and insertion of a cylindrical culvert blankv for another cycle.

For a more complete description of the apparatus and its operation I refer now to the drawings, which show an example of one form of construction, and in which:

Figs'l and 2 are end elevations of the apparatus, Fig. 1 showing the platens in the raised position, Fig. 2 showing the platens in the closed position.

able dies 12, the recess of each die coresponding to the desired finished size of the top of an arch type'culvert. Two platens l3 are positioned above the dies and are supported at their sides on the rods [4 which make a sliding fit with the tubes [5 welded to the platens 13 (as best shown in Fig. 3). The rods [4 are hinged to the frame II] at the fulcrum block hinges l9. The platens 13 are connected to vertically reciprocating, hydraulic or mechanical rams [6 by means of a slidably mounted frame comprising crossheads H, to which the platens l3 are pivotally connected at the crosshead hinges l8, and longitudinal beam F shown in the side elevation, Fig. 6, the platens l3 have a substantial longitudinal extent to permit the deforming of a length of culvert section in one operation. The rams l6 and crossheads I! are spaced at intervals along the length of the platens and said crossheads are connected by longitudinal beam heads 33. Where a plurality of rams are used (e. g. two, as shown) the hydraulic type is especially useful in affording good equalization and other coordination during the downward stroke.

In operation the removable dies 12 are nested within the stationary die ll until the die of the desired size is in position. A cylindrical culvert blank 20 is placed in the recess 2! (as shown in Fig. 1) of the top die I2. The reciprocating rams I6 are actuated and move downward toward the blank 28. The rams [6 in turn actuate the platens l3 through the crossheads I1 and crosshead hinges l8. As the free edges 22 of the platens l3 are pressed downward the angle made by the flat surfaces 23 of the platens l3 flattens out and the outer edges 24 of the platens l3 slide along the hinged rods l4 toward the fulcrum block hinges IS. The pressure exerted by platens l3 upon the culvert blank 20 forces that portion of the'blank which is in the top die l2 to conform to the shape of the recess 21 and that portion of the blank which is engaged by the platens to flatten. When the downward movement of the reciprocating rams It is completed the flat faces 23 of platens [3 are substantially horizontal and lie in the same plane and in substantially continuous contact with the flattened surface of the deformed culvert 30 as shown in Fig. 2. The rams [6 are then actuated to move upward. The free edges 22 of platens I3 are drawn up by the operations of the rams l6 through the crossheads l1 and crosshead hinges l8. The platens l3 pivot at the crosshead hinges during the upstroke, and the flat faces 23 of the platens move out of the horizontal plane and form an angle between them. The outer edges 24 of platens slide along the hinged rods i4 away from the fulcrum hinges l9 and the rods [4 pivot upward as the platens .I3 are retracted. When the rams ['6 have completed their upward movement the culvert 30 which has been deformed in the manner described may be removed from the recess 2| and another cylindrical culvert blank placed in position for the next cycle.

It has been found that the use of two or more platens in exerting pressure on the culvert blank is preferable to a single reciprocating die.

The pivoting and sliding motion of the platens 13 toward the fulcrum hinges l9 urges the metal toward the small corners 32 of the culvert 30 during the forming operation and. results in easier and more accurate forming of the culvert.

Furthermore, there is substantially no slippage between the platen faces and the culvert.

' The apparatus of my invention maybe adjusted to shape culverts of various diameters by increasing or decreasing the size of the removable or temporary dies l2, e. g. by inserting a greater or less number of the latter in nested relation. I have found that satisfactory temporary dies 'may be constructed with steel boiler plate for the contour of the recess and wooden spacer blocks 25 to give the desired diameter and give support to the die under pressure. The spacer blocks 25. are held in position on the outside of the die by countersunk screws 26 (see Fig. 7). In adjusting the apparatus to shape culverts of different diameters vertical adjustment of the fulcrum block hinges I9 is necessary. For this purpose additional holes 21 have been provided along the vertically disposed angle members 28 carrying the fulcrum block hinges l9 (as shown in Fig 3).

The fulcrum block hinges 19 may be adjusted by removing the nuts 29 and bolts 3! (see Fig. and replacing them when the hinges have been moved vertically to the desired position. The

f stroke of the rams I6 may also be vertically adjusted during operation, i. e. either lengthened or shortened as the case may be so that the platens 4 [3 will lie in the desired relation, preferably a horizontal plane, at the end of the downward pressure stroke.

It has been found that the working surfaces of both the platens and the recessed dies may be smooth, as shown, and yet produce an appropriately corrugated culvert, from blanks of culvert pipe corrugated in the usual manner. The illustrated machine will accommodate blanks of varlous sizes; in forming culverts which are longer than the length of the platens, one particularly effective procedure involves inserting one end of the blank in the machine and partially deformfor rocking the platens about the aforesaid axes ing it, then repeating the operation as the pipe is progressively moved through the press, until the full length has been partially deformed, and finally putting the blank progressively through the press a second time to complete the forming operation.

In the specification I have described only one form of my invention, however it will be apparent that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention and it is not desired to limit my invention except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for converting a cylindrical sheet metal culvert blank into a culvert having a flat bottom and an arched top, a die constructed to provide a recess for receiving the blank and having the configuration of the 'desired arch, a pair of platens having substantially flat faces for engaging the sheet metal blank, means mounting the platens. to rock uponthe surface of the culvert blank about axes respectively adjacent the sides of the die, and means for actuating the platens to flatten the portions of the blank engaged by said faces and shape the rest of the blank against the wall of the'recess in the die, said actuating means including means toward the blank so that said actuating means causes the platens to exert deforming pressure on. the blank at localities progressively nearer the center thereof.

2. In an apparatus for forming an arch type sheet metal culvert from a cylindrical sheet metal blank, a die having a longitudinal recess to receive said cylindrical blank, said recess conforming in shape and dimensions to the desired arch, a pair of platens having substantially flat lower faces for engaging the blank, hinge means for the platens disposed at the sides of the die, for supporting the platens to swing about axes adjacent said sides, with the inner edges of the platens thereby movable toward and away from the die in the Vicinity of a central region thereof, and means for swinging the platens on their hinges to move their inner edges toward the die and thereby to flatten the portions of the blank engaged by said faces and shape the rest of the blank to conform to the interior of the recess in the aforesaid die.

3. In an apparatus for forming arch-type sheet metal culverts from substantially cylindrical sheet metal blanks, a lower platen constructed to provide a longitudinal recess, to receive said blanks, said recess conforming substantially to the shape and dimensions of the desired arch, supporting structure at the sides of the lower platen, 'a pair of platens hinged at their outer edges to said supporting structure and having their inner, free edges above said recess, the work engaging faces of said platens being substantially flat, and means movable relative to sai structure, for simultaneously actuating said platens to swing their inner edges toward the lower platen and thereby to flatten the portions of blanks engaged by them and conform other portions of the blank to the interior of the recess in the die.

4. In an apparatus for converting a cylindrical sheet metal culvert blank into a culvert having a fiat bottom and an arched top, a die constructed to provide a recess for receiving the blank and having the internal configuration of the desired arch, supporting structure, a pair of hinged rods, said rods being hinged on said supporting structure to swing about predetermined localities at the sides of the die, a pair of platens slidable on said rods and having substantially flat faces for engaging the blank, and actuating means comprising a reciprocating hydraulic ram connected to both platens for simultaneously sliding the platens 0n the hinged rods and swinging the rods on their hinges and thereby forcing the fiat faces of the platens into engagement with portions of the blank with sufficient pressure to fiatten said portions and shape the rest of the blank against the interior of the recess in the die.

5. In an apparatus for converting substantial- 1y cylindrical shells into culverts of the flat bottom arched-top-type, a supporting frame work comprising vertical side members, a plurality of rods each hinged at one end on said members, a pair of platens slidably mounted on said rods and having substantially flat lower faces, a die below said platens having a longitudinal recess for receiving the cylindrical shells and corresponding in shape and dimensions to a desired arched culvert top, and platen actuating means comprisin a reciprocative member pivoted directly to both of the platens, reciprocation of said member in one direction sliding the platens outward on the aforesaid rods as the platens apply deforming pressure to shells held in the recess of the die.

6. In an apparatus for converting substantially cylindrical shells of varying diameters into culverts having substantially flat bottoms and arched tops, a supporting framework comprising vertical side members, a plurality of rods each hinged at one end on said members, a pair of platens slidable on said rods and having substantially fiat lower faces, a set of nested dies each having a recess corresponding in shape and dimensions to a desired arch, said dies being relatively movable to expose an appropriate cylindrical shell, and platen actuating means comprising hydraulic 6 rams, and a crosshead structure connected on said rams and pivotally connected directly to both platens, said rams swinging the hinged rods and sliding the platens outward on said rods as the fiat faces of the platens apply pressure of suflicient magnitude to the cylindrical shell to form an arched top within the recess in the die and flatten the portions of the shell engaged by said flat faces.

7. In an apparatus for converting substantially cylindrical shells into culverts having substantially flat bottoms and arched tops, a die recessed in conformity with the desired arched top and adapted to receive a shell to be shaped, a pair of platens having substantiallyflat faces and disposed for engaging the shell at circumferentially spaced localities outside the die, said platens being adapted for initial engagement with the shell when the faces of the platens lie at an angle of substantially less than to each other, means mounting the platens to rock about axes extending longitudinally relative to the shell, and means for moving the platens toward the die to fiatten the shell where the platens engage it and to shape its other side against the die recess, said last-mentioned means including means for rocking the platens in a direction to enlarge the aforesaid angle between their faces as they move against the shell and toward the die.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 which includes removable means associated with the lower platen, to' permit operation on blanks having different diameters, and means intermediate the supporting structure and the rods for efiecting vertical adjustment of the hinge axes of the rods whereby the localities of said hinge axes may be changed to accord with the diameter of the blank under treatment.

MERIL L. ECKMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

